Flow River Flow~

Feb17

The Holler is getting hammered by storm after storm. This is the view looking north from our back patio, taken on Valentines Day as The Holler was being hit with the most massive rain storm. You can see raindrops on the lens. My iphone sent me 6 flash-flood warnings in 24 hours.

Here is the lower pasture being chewed up by the little creek which turned into a rapid-filled, raging river. The pasture gate is the white structure in the back left of the photo. It partially collapsed in the onslaught.


The river flows.
It flows to the sea.
Wherever that river goes,
that’s where I want to be.
Flow river flow,
past the shaded tree.
Go river, go, to the sea.

(Lyrics: The Byrds)

We hiked along the creek in the pouring rain on Valentines Day. You can see my son by the oxbow, to give you perspective on how big the creek is. It was thirty feet wide at some sections and was carrying logs and trees along like matchsticks!

Our rain gauge kept over-filling at 6 inches, and more storms are on the horizon.

Southern California is getting more snow than Boston, and the Sierras have the biggest snowpack in the country.

This is The Holler looking east this morning. It is still snowing in the mountains, which are obscured by clouds, but there is sunshine here today, with more rain forecasted.

And this is the view to the west. Our multi-year drought is finally over!! Cheers to you from the very wet, and very happy, Holler~

289 thoughts on “Flow River Flow~”

  4. Glad to hear the drought is over, but…….what a way to go. It’s only when you look at that raging creek that you have a sense of the devastation the lashings of rain might be causing in low-lying areas.

    At least the fields look lovely and green, Cindy.

    Our horrendous record-breaking heat-waves in Melbourne, Australia seem to finally be over, but the towns, farms and even…..main cities…… are under water up north of the country with some folk up to their waists in flood water. Some country areas looked like vast seas with little bits of green tree tops and building roofs the only thing visible in thousands of acres. Unbelievable. At least the Government is stepping up to help the farmers who have lost everything. I haven’t checked the state of the bush fires yet.

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    • This is just global weather chaos. Our president doesn’t understand that global warming also means global cooling, and global flooding. As one area overheats, another freezes. As one region dries, another floods. It is unpredictable. These storms weren’t forecast to be this extreme. All this rain facilitated plant growth at The Holler, means trouble, come September, when fire season starts.
      I remember being in Melbourne when you were in the midst of massive drought with wildfires raging. It felt like home, except for the thirsty koalas with burnt paws who broke my heart.
      Hang in there. I know how frightening it can be.

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  5. You Live in a beautiful picturesque Place. Even in the rain it retains its loveliness. New York City gets its share of rain, snow and Sleet. However unless I must go to work I stay inside on inclement days. Fortunately I’m working part time at the Brooklyn Public Library which is about 30 minutes from home. Short commute.

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  6. Wow! After last year’s wildfires, I worried that a wet winter would cause a lot of erosion in California. I wonder what the situation is up north in Paradise. We’ve had a bunch of mudslides here in Washington state, but nothing really bad yet.

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    • The mudslides are big problems in Ventura, and burn areas. Poor Paradise! I hope she is spared from the worst. You have burned areas too, which are so vulnerable, but your state is a bit more adapted to intense rain. Hope all is okay.

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  8. Weather is in eternal flux and flow. I refuses to be counted on to deliver what we want, when and how we want it. But I do understand the need for more water and snow in the mountains means groundwater for later. Your area is so lush and green. No wonder you love it there. Great shots of the rush of the creek.

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  9. Yes, this is a great tale of the flooding. And I see where part of the freeway 118 is washed away on the cliffside, and the 39 in the other direction, so I am wondering what is going to happen to the people up in the mountains of those areas. It looks like there is a lot of work to be done before they can manage to get anyone down safely. Thank you for sharing that beautiful area and the changes that are coming to all the different parts of it.

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    • Gorgeous Ventura has been hit so hard the last two years. People will be stranded for yet another year. And the story is not over yet. I see our mountains encased by storm clouds as I type this, and rain and snow is forecast at least for the next week, for essentially the entire state! My thoughts and prayers are with all in harms way. Mother Nature seems highly irritated!

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  11. That is a ton of rain! Everything looks so green and lush. Glad you’ve finally had relief from the drought. Now the flowers will bloom – yay! I’m visiting friends in LA at the end of this month and we’re planning day trips to see wildflowers. Anza-Borrego, Joshua Tree and ranunculus fields in Carlsbad are a few of the stops planned. Your neighborhood, I think!

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  14. Well that’s one way to end a drought! It’s ironic that I moved back to northeastern Ohio largely because I missed snow, and now California’s getting more snow than we are. I guess I’ll have to move to Canada to be happy…

    Also, isn’t the power of water absolutely mesmerizing? It seems like such a gentle element, but can also be so destructive.

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    • I love the power of the water! It roars and you hear it while you’re sleeping. I can’t believe our local mountains, they ring SoCal like circular Alps. The Sierra is basically buried. It often gets incredibly impressive snow, but this is unparalleled! The avalanche danger will be very high. Canada is incredibly appealing to me too…..But, it does get awfully cold there.

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      • I couldn’t imagine being separated from water for long: all my life has been spent either on the Pacific coast or the shores of the Great Lakes; the sound of water is the most soothing music of all to me.

        Yes, Canada gets cold, but the air becomes wonderfully refreshing when it gets below zero Fahrenheit – as long as you’re dressed properly.

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  15. Right now I’m in the north of 60°cold but it will be very rainy in May. However, my home in the Okanagan of BC (as well as BC generally) has been experiencing droughts and fires similar to California’s. Climate change is real but my, there are Manu people who just won’t even consider it.

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  16. When I read that you loved the sound of the rain and water flowing, this is the thought by Hermann Hesse that came to me:
    “They both listed silently to the water, which to them was not just water, but the voice of life, the voice of Being, the voice of perpetual Becoming.”
    So glad that the days of your drought have been quenched. Hugs.

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    • That quote gives me goosebumps. I do feel the combined spiritual impact of the rain, the river, and the Creator. Mother Nature seems a bit perturbated to me right about now, and I don’t blame her one bit!

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  21. Pingback: Flow River Flow – Timeless Wisdoms

    • Yes. In other areas, the flooding, and avalanche threat is potentially catastrophic. And in all areas, with more rain and snow to come, we must wait and see. Thank you for being concerned.

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  26. Hi Cindy, I was wondering if you were in the storms, Now I know. Enjoy the water and the storms, but be safe. Pics were great. Can’t seem to get rid of the snow / cold around here. Ducks/geese have deserted the lake because it’s frozen over. Take care & stay dry . ………………..💙

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  29. Wonderful photographs of a dangerous condition. I’m so happy the drought is over but that’s a lot of water all at once. Trees floating by…. I’m glad that you’re safe and that everyone is happy. ❤

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    • Southern California is always the driest part of the state since much of it is desert or semi-desert so when we get inundated, the northern parts of the state usually get even more so. Storm clouds are moving in now, so hopefully we will get even more precipitation in Southern California. Thank you for caring Emma & have a wonderful week.

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  33. Cindy, this is a beautiful photo story with the addition of lovely lyrics from The Byrds. I hope the rain stopped before it was too much. I’m so pleased your multi-year drought is done.

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    • You and I, and Peter Gabriel, feel the call of the river on it’s voyage to the sea. He sang:
      “Going away, away toward the sea
      River deep, can you lift up and carry me?
      Oh roll on through the heartland,
      ‘Til the sun has left the sky,
      River, river, carry me high.”

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  46. It’s nice that the drought is over, Cindy, but must the pendulum swing so wildly? Water is incredibly powerful, and I’m familiar with that muddy brown deluge here in Oregon. Be careful, and enjoy the greenness of your beautiful Holler.

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  47. I’m so glad the draught is over for you, Cindy! Still, it must be worrisome to have all that rainwater fall at once. Here, our ground is saturated from snowfall after snowfall, and with the lower depths still frozen, there’s nowhere for rainfall to go. The weather everywhere has been trying this year — I can’t ever recall having so many gray days in wintertime!

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  48. The holler looks lush and alive with the river flowing. I’m glad to hear your drought is over and didn’t know the Sierras had more snow than anywhere. I guess we all must adapt to climate change or as I’ve now read it being called environmental breakdown. We are facing a critical time for the planet and people. Hopefully, we will wake up.

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  49. Delighted to see the drought ended. The creek at the bottom of our land frequently floods, but in order to reach the house it would have to reach Noah-like proportions, which is why we don’t bother with flood insurance!

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  50. I love your beautiful landscape photographs. The contrasting colors are lovely and your composition is perfect. The photos resemble Impressionism paintings. I could just see Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, any one of the amazing painters of that period standing at an easel and creating a masterpiece in this area of the world.

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